2015 Theme:“Building Connections: Enhancing the Links between Communities and Trails”

• Preserving wilderness trails while introducing people to the magic of the outdoors• Ensuring healthy ecosystems within open space through sustainable trail design• Creating access and enhancing opportunities for trail use • Building stronger communities while promoting active and healthy lifestyles by connecting people and places through trails• Ensuring advocacy and protection of trails among the next generation of stewards• Reconnecting children to nature through trails• Improving the environmental and social health of communities through alternative transportation options• Boosting local economies through local desirability and the promotion of trails as a tourist attraction • Emphasizing regional thinking through community partnerships

PURPOSEThe California Trails & Greenways Conference provides trail professionals, advocates, volunteers and users with a venue for sharing practical, up-to-date trail management and advocacy skills; as well as a forum for networking and building support for accessible, inter-connected, and sustainable non-motorized trail systems. Since 1985, this investment of knowledge by California State Parks and the California Trails Conference Foundation has helped ensure trail stewardship and leadership for generations to come.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?Ninety-five percent of past participants said the conference met or exceeded their expectations. Attendees included representatives from public agencies (51%), trail advocacy organizations (38%), and trails-related businesses (9%). That’s proof that even in really tough budget years agencies and not-for-profit organizations find this training invaluable!

The California Trails and Greenways Conference Awards acknowledge and show appreciation for worthy individuals, organizations, agencies and businesses that, through their hard work, integrity and social responsibility, have made outstanding contributions to promote, enhance or expand public awareness and use of trails and greenways in California during the year.

GET INVOLVED!!The Conference happens because of you. Trail leaders from throughout the state contribute generously to our success and reap benefits for years to come. Don’t miss these opportunities to be more visible:Sponsoring the conference supports the trails community while promoting your business, non-profit or agency. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Emily Williams, Executive Director with the California Trails Conference Foundation: (530) 562-7224 or click on this link: Becoming A Sponsor.

For more information on the purpose and history of the California Trails & Greenways Conference, click here. For information on past conferences, including links to plenary and educational sessions, click here.

ITSA Bike Shop is OPEN during the outside construction. Get on down there!

This construction project is going to take 2 and a half more months, but the shop has specific parking around the corner on St. Charles Street. Stop by for all your biking needs and while you’re there pick up your free kids tickets to STEAM Maker Fest at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Saturday Dec. 6th.

STEAM Maker Fest is a showcase of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math leading to innovative, creative and social entrepreneurship. Come see the crafts and displays including educational robotics and other fun stuff!

North County Composite Cycling Club is starting a high school mountain bike league in north county San Diego. All riders in grades 9-12 are welcome regardless of experience. Middle school riders are also welcome and race in their own format. Trained coaches will provide skill training.

Contact: Matt Gunnell — he can direct racers to the proper program. matt@socaldirt.org

Comments received during the Preliminary General Plan/Draft EIR public review period as well as responses may be found in the “Maps and Documents” section at the bottom of the General Plan webpage: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27169. Click on “Public Comments and Responses – CRSP Prelim General Plan-DEIR” to view or download the document.

The Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIR was available for public review and comment during the 45-day public review period which occurred from August 21, 2014 to October 6, 2014. All comments received by the October 6 deadline received a written response and will be included as part of the Final General Plan/EIR following approval of the General Plan by the State Park and Recreation Commission. Any changes to the General Plan/EIR as a result of public and Commission review shall be incorporated. Thank you to all who submitted comments.

Public Input: Your input is greatly appreciated as we complete the General Plan. We continue to welcome your questions, comments and concerns via e-mail at enviro@parks.ca.gov. A last opportunity for comment on the Preliminary General Plan/Draft EIR will occur at the time of the State Park and Recreation Commission meeting scheduled for Friday, November 14th, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in the Garcia Auditorium of the Caltrans District 11 building, 4050 Taylor Street, in San Diego. At the hearing the Commission will consider and take possible action on the Department recommendation to approve the General Plan and Environmental Impact Report for Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. See the General Plan webpage for a link to information about the Commission meeting.

Bike Parks: IMBA’s Guide to New-School Trails is now available for pre-order! This is a high-level resource for people interested in building professional, lasting community assets that are awesome to ride. Topics include: inspiring a community-based vision, fundraising strategies and partnerships, risk management and liability, design principles and concept documents, contracting and construction advice, and maintenance and operations.

Apply Now for a Subaru-IMBA Trail Care Crew Visit

IMBA is now accepting applications for Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visits in 2015. Trail Care Crew visits present an opportunity for land managers, trail organizations and IMBA chapters to teach new volunteers sustainable trail design, construction and maintenance; reenergize existing volunteers; grow their organizations; expand their knowledge and strengthen their networks of supporters. Apply for a visit between October 1 and November 1. This is the only time the application window will be open for 2015 events.

Southwest Mountain Bike Updates

Check out IMBA Region Director Patrick Kell’s blog for all of the latest news on mountain bike advocacy and trail development in the southwest region. This month, he talks about trail design happening now in Caliente, NV, (over 40 miles) and in southwest Utah; the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society working toward more technical trails even after being named an IMBA Ride Center; trail advocacy work happening in the Prescott, AZ, area; regional mountain bike events you don’t want to miss and Patrick’s planning for 2015.

Special Bike Magazine Deal for IMBA Supporters

We know you are for bikes… PeopleForBikes, an IMBA partner and Above-and-Beyond Corporate Member, is working to unite 1 million cyclists to help make riding better, safer, more accessible and more fun for cyclists of all stripes, all across the U.S. Add your voice as a lover of two wheels and help them reach their goal to show our country’s leaders that we’re here and we matter!

sustainable trail building workshops with field work at Crestridge Ecological Reserve

The San Diego Mountain Biking Association regularly invites the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew to visit our area. They will be in San Diego the weekend of December 4-7 to talk trails, teach people proper trail building technique and spend quality time digging in the dirt. The visit is one of 38 stops on the 2014 schedule. You are invited to attend the Land Manager Training Day on Friday, December 5, 2014. If you know of someone else you think would benefit from this session please pass this information on to them.

Who’s invited:

Local, state and federal land management agency staff in any applicable department, such as recreation management, upper management, planning, maintenance, construction, facilities, engineering, GIS/mapping; city and County officials.

What is the Land Manager Training:

The Crew offers a presentation followed by discussion geared toward educating about IMBA’s work and the practice of building sustainable trails and managing trail users to improve the user experience. Following the training and lunch (provided) we’ll head out to the field for a hands on demonstration of what was covered in the presentation.

For a complete list of visit dates, photos and additional information on the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visit this page.

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew, on the road since 1997, is IMBA’s grassroots educational program and an authority on sustainable trail building practices. Our team of professional trail experts travel year-round throughout the United States and beyond, leading trail work sessions, meeting with land managers and working with IMBA Chapters/clubs and the communities they serve to improve mountain biking opportunities.

The Trail Care Crew program has inspired great volunteer trail work across the U.S. and abroad – a big help to government agencies and land managers who have limited funding for trail construction and upkeep. As a direct result, there are now thousands of new and improved trails in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and several European countries.

About the San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA)

San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA) is an IRS 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to protecting and promoting mountain bike access in San Diego County. Our 20-year-old association was formed by a small and passionate group of mountain bikers. In 2013 SDMBA became a chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Today our 100% volunteer-managed organization continues to grow with over 800 members.

VISION:

SDMBA envisions San Diego County as a home and destination with a rich network of sustainable trails and bike parks providing mountain bikers and other non-motorized trail users with recreational, athletic, and educational opportunities.

OUR MISSION:

Advocate for outdoor recreational access throughout San Diego County

Foster respect for the environment and educate trail users in safe and appropriate mountain biking use

Work with other trail user groups, land managers, and policy makers to develop fair and responsible policies governing the use of public and private lands

About the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.

IMBA’s worldwide network includes 35,000 individual members, more than 750 bicycle clubs, more than 160 corporate partners and about 600 retailer shops. IMBA’s members live in all 50 U.S. states, most Canadian provinces and in 30 other countries. For more information visit www.IMBA.com.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company markets and distributes all-wheel drive Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru of America, Inc., is the only car company that offers symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line. Subaru has been the best-selling import wagon in America for the past 20 years, based on R.L. Polk & Company new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2002.

About the Earth Discovery Institute (our hosts)

The Earth Discovery Institute oversees the implementation of the Crestridge Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan, including stewardship efforts for land management, monitoring, and maintenance. Scientifically -based preservation and restoration programs are being created that integrally involve students and the community. Biologically sound ecological preservation programs are being established that are intertwined with innovative education programs, creating unique models of both. The community at large is the beneficiary of a healthy natural area, and a corps of stewards who understand, value and protect it.